CALIFFM@BAYLOR.BITNET (Michael Califf) (12/13/87)
Baylor University's Communication Department has installed several Tops Repeaters on campus and we have discovered several points worthy of mention. IN OUR EXPERIENCE: 1) Tops Repeaters may be successfully used to bridge two networks WHICH ARE *BOTH* IN GOOD SHAPE signal-wise. 2) Two repeaters are often needed if the two networks are a good distance from each other. 3) Tops repeaters should be installed 'near' Kinetics Fastpath boxes to allow both to function optimally - The signal filters on both boxes seem to filter out each others packets otherwise. 4) Careful placement of terminating resistors (read - use your 'scope on the wires) will often improve the performance of your network whether or not you use repeaters. (Our situation - Four network areas - A,B,C & D. A,B &C are bridged together with Kinetics Boxes - D is linked to C via a 2800 ft. twisted pair through campus tunnels with a Tops Repeater on each end. Obviously we are using Phone Net. Nodes consist of about 40 Macs, 12 PC's, 4 Dec Rainbows, 5 LaserWriters and a VMS/VAX.) These comments are in no way endorsed by my boss or anyone above me in the heirarchy of Baylor University. I'm just the one they scream at when the net is down. Mike Califf Communications Software Coordinator Center for Computation and Information Systems Baylor University CALIFFM@BAYLOR.BITNET